Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Could you be part of the next chapter in the Arthros story?
6 September 2024In 1990, after a lot of work and preparation, a nurse and doctor on the Rheumatology ward at Battle Hospital, together with other like-minded local volunteers, a lot of local fundraising and some generous bequests, set up Reading Charity ‘Arthros’, to help local Arthritis sufferers. Staff Nurse Lya Turner saw firsthand the impact of Arthritis and ...
The Kings Award For Voluntary Service 2025
4 September 2024
Nominations for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025 are now open This is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and is the equivalent to an MBE. A list of all the past winners in Berkshire can be downloaded here. There are many more fantastic organisations/groups across the county, doing amazing work who ...
The Branding Project from the University of Reading – open for applications
4 September 2024Are you a new charity looking to establish a brand identity but lacking the resources to do so? Or are you a not-for-profit in need of a brand refresh or re-positioning and would welcome some input from students at the University of Reading? The University will be holding a structured six-week ‘design-thinking brand jam’ with Part ...
Formal bidding process opens for land at 82 Gosbrook Road, Caversham (formerly The Heights Primary School) Deadline 30 Oct 2024
4 September 2024Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the freehold land at 82 Gosbrook Road, Caversham, RG4 8BH. This is the former The Heights Primary School site and is being concurrently released to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and on the open market via Vails Estate Agents ...
Slides and resources from the Community Buildings Forum, 3 Sep 2024
3 September 2024
Thanks to everyone who attended the Community Buildings Forum on 3 September 2024. Once again this was a well attended session with plenty of opportunity for networking and a diverse range of speakers/topics, including the ‘third sector process’ i.e. how RBC releases properties and assets to the sector voluntary sector groups who have space to rent/lease (including ...
The Earley Charity – Capital Projects Programme – Deadline 30 September 2024
29 August 2024
The Earley Charity’s Capital Projects Programme has reopened for a second round of funding. By Capital we mean bricks and mortar such as new builds, extensions and large-scale refurbishments. The programme has a budget of £105,000 and is open to local organisations that work in or predominately serve the Earley Charity’s area of benefit. The ...
PCC Thames Valley Community Fund – Deadline 9 September 2024
22 August 2024
Introduction – overview of the funding This Fund is an opportunity for community and voluntary groups to get involved and assist both the PCC and Thames Valley Police in tackling and reducing crime The Community Fund comes from the proceeds from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owner. Its ...
Reading’s Voluntary and Community Sector Survey 2024
19 August 2024
The last few years have seen unprecedented upheavals and challenges across the UK and beyond. The Voluntary and Community sector has been at the forefront of the responses to these challenges and continues to be so today. Reading’s Voluntary and Community Sector Survey 2024 aims to enhance understanding of the makeup of our vibrant and diverse voluntary ...
Congratulations to ABC to Read on their Safe and Sound Award!
16 August 2024
Congratulations to another local charity, Assisting Berkshire Children (ABC) to Read, who have attained a continuation of their Safe and Sound Award for Good Governance in Charities for a further three years following a review. Read on to hear from CEO, Marcia Rowlinson about what the charity has been focussed on recently, how the review ...
Small Groups Forum – September session
14 August 2024
Reading has a wide variety of charities and community groups, of various sizes. Smaller groups have told us that they would like more specialist support as they have different challenges to larger groups. RVA therefore runs a Small Groups’ Forum for charities and community groups who are: mainly volunteer led with an income below £50K If you are ...
Heritage Open Days in Caversham Court Gardens
12 August 2024This year’s theme for Heritage Open Days is Routes, Networks, Connections. Bring the whole family along to Caversham Court Gardens on Saturday 7 September or Sunday 8 September 1100-1600 : circumnavigate the globe learning the origins of some of the fine collection of plants and trees in Caversham Court Gardens. Throughout history, travellers have collected useful and ...
BCF Vital for Berkshire – Deadline 22 August 2024
8 August 2024Introduction – overview of the funding The Vital for Berkshire fund aims to support charities, community groups and projects that work to tackle the most salient and pressing issues within Berkshire’s communities at any given time. Who is eligible to apply? Applications are accepted from registered charities, community groups and other charitable organisations, including social enterprises and community interest companies ...
Riots and guidance on how to protect your charity or group
7 August 2024In light of the recent news and events arising from awful actions from far-right groups, we wanted to share the following practical guidance to help you keep your charity or community group, your staff, volunteers and beneficiaries safe. The national guidance for charities and community groups in this context: The VCS Emergencies Partnership, a national partnership of ...
McCarthy Stone Foundation – Deadline 23 August 2024
2 August 2024Introduction – overview of the funding The McCarthy Stone Foundation was launched in 2020 and runs a number of grant programmes throughout the year for organisations supporting projects to improve the health and wellbeing of people over 65 in specific regions of the UK. The Foundation gives grants of unrestricted core funding to grassroots groups of ...
RBC Closing the Gap 2 – VCS Engagement Session, 20 Aug 2024
1 August 2024
Reading Borough Council would like to invite you to attend its first engagement session to discuss plans for the Closing the Gap 2 procurement. This will be an opportunity for them to share their timescales and intentions for this procurement with you and will be an opportunity for you to be part of that process ...
Employment Law update – planned legislation in relation to the workplace
31 July 2024The new government has outlined its legislative agenda in respect of planned changes to Employment Law. Two new Employment Bills will be introduced: The Employment Rights Bill 2024 – which will implement several of Labour’s workers’ rights pledges, including strengthening family leave entitlement, reforming SSP, and scrapping minimum wage age bands. The Equality (Race and Disability) Bill ...
Updated guidance from the Charity Commission on holding online charity meetings
31 July 2024
The Charity Commission has refreshed its guidance, known as CC48, now requiring charities who hold online meetings to review, and if necessary update, their governing document. The guidance stresses that trustees should make sure any rules around holding meetings are up to date and practical. This has become particularly important now that many charity meetings are ...
GSK Kings Fund – Community Health Programme – deadline 5pm, 12 August 2024
31 July 2024The GSK Community Health programme will support aspirational leaders who want to develop their organisations to tackle health inequalities. Up to 15 organisations will receive £10,000 of unrestricted funding. GSK know that a huge amount of work tackling health inequalities is carried out by very small charities working closely with their communities. They also know it ...
Understanding barriers to work in South Reading
31 July 2024
Help Reading Welfare Rights to understand the barriers to education, employment and training for residents in south Reading by completing their survey for organisations. There is also a survey for residents – please share with your service users who live in South Reading.
Congratulations to Reading Family Aid on their Safe and Sound Award!
25 July 2024
We are delighted to announce that local charity, Reading Family Aid, have been awarded the RVA Safe and Sound good governance award for charities! In this article the Reading Family Aid Trustees explain a bit more about what the charity does, what the Safe and Sound process involved for them, and how they have benefited ...